BUSINESS LETTER FORMAT
Your Address
City, Province
Postal Code
Date
Employer=s Name (Don=t know the name? Check with the Co-op Office!)
Employer=s Title
Company Name
Address
City, Province
Postal Code
Dear Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms. (Last Name of Employer):
INTRODUCTION (Paragraph 1)
Start with a strong sentence to show why they should be interested in you; indicate why you
are writing, what type of job interests you, why you are interested in the company, and how
you were referred to the company; mention you are seeking a Co-operative Education
opportunity of a specific duration.
BODY OF LETTER (Paragraph 2 and 3)
Sell yourself; give a summary of your relevant experience and skills and how they meet the
employer=s needs; focus on your program of studies; highlight your strongest skills,
accomplishments, personal traits and values; demonstrate your research on the company; refer
to the enclosed resume for more details.
Match your skills to the job description. This is a chance to outline your skills as they
relate to the job. Use descriptive, positive, action verbs to describe what you can do. Give
concrete examples.
When answering an advertisement, make sure to include all the requirements listed in the
posting. Identify your academic background, skills, accomplishments, strengths and personal
qualities. Relate your talents to the position as advertised or to the employment areas you
want to access.
* Explain briefly why you would like to work for this employer. Demonstrate that you know
something about the company. (Research the company via Annual Reports, through the Web
Site etc.)
When mentioning salary requirements, it is safe to use >negotiable= or >open= to describe what
you expect. If the ad did not mention salary, leave it out completely. If it did, check the
Graduate Employment Report for average starting salary ranges for your program before
suggesting what you think you should earn; or discuss it with your Co-op Coordin